UK. 420 sailor Hannah Mills sets sights on gold at her last British Youth Championship

Monday, 10 April 2006

Kate Fairclough:

Hannah Mills, one of Britain’s most promising young dinghy sailors and 2012 hopeful, will be looking to secure her ticket to the ISAF (International Sailing Federation) Youth World Championships this summer as she competes in the RYA Youth National Championships in Weymouth this week. At 18, this is Hannah’s last year classed as a youth sailor, and alongside crew Peggy Webster, the duo will be looking to defend their title in the 420 class.

Hannah, from Cardiff, Wales who is sponsored by international print and electronic media company Pindar, already holds the 420 Junior Girls European title which she won with Peggy in Italy last summer, and has been a valuable member of the British team. Having finished a credible fourth at last year’s ISAF Youth World Championships in Korea, the pair will be striving for a podium finish this year.

Speaking from Weymouth this weekend, Hannah said: “Peggy and I have been training hard all winter, spending most weekends down here in Weymouth with the youth squad or out with our own coach, so I think we’re pretty well prepared - we know the bay almost inside out now. It’s been a busy time juggling sailing with A Levels, but we’re both really focused on competing at the Youth Worlds, as it’ll be our last big event in 420s before moving up to senior sailing and hopefully the development squad. We’re looking forward to some good racing and hope to achieve the result we need, as well as beating the boys!”

The RYA Youth National Championships and Trials take place from Monday 10th April to Friday 14th April at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy in Dorset, which is also the sailing venue for the 2012 Olympic Games. The regatta is the key date on the British youth sailing calendar and is used by the RYA selectors to determine the British Team for the World Championships which will take place in Weymouth this July.

Hannah has enjoyed an illustrious sailing career to date, having first taken the world of sailing by storm in the junior Optimist class. Winning the National Optimist Championships in 2002, a first for any girl, Hannah achieved a number of international victories in the junior class, well-known as a starting point for many of today’s Olympic stars. Sailing in the 420 with crew Peggy for the past three years, Hannah has represented Great Britain at several international events, including the 420 World Championships and 420 European Open Championships, as well as being crowned 420 Junior Girls European Champions in 2005.

Hannah’s unquestionable talent and drive secured her a four-year sponsorship deal with Pindar, the international print and electronic media company based in Scarborough, in 2003. Hannah is also supported by the Sports Council for Wales' prestigious lottery programme, Elite Cymru, clothing manufacturer Musto, and has received numerous national sporting awards including BBC Wales Young Female Sports Personality of the Year and UK Young Sailor of the Year in 2002.

For more information on Hannah Mills, please visit: www.hannahmills.com